9/11 Rescue Workers are Sick

Many of the 9/11 rescue workers are hurt and angry. They have not only been disinvited from the 10-year memorial service of the biggest terrorist attack in U.S. history, but they are sick. Physically sick.

Dr. Iris G. Udasin, Director of the Clinical Center for Excellence for World Trade Center Responders, gives these numbers: around 50,000 9/11 rescue workers are sick as are another 100,000 residents who lived close to the ground zero area.

The majority of 9/11 rescue workers are sick with lung conditions, and the reason for this is not hard to understand. Those two gigantic World Trade Center towers collapsed into 5 to 10 million tons of dust on that fateful day on September 11, 2001.

According to USA Today:

“Most of the materials included gypsum, concrete and manmade fibers, such as glass. Contaminants in particles included quartz, chrysotile asbestos, zinc, iron and lead…The alkalinity, very large particles, thin fibers and gases were major contributors to what led to the World Trade Center cough and other health problems for workers who were there within first 12 to 72 hours after the collapse.”

Yes, there were some respirators available, but such equipment was bulky. Besides, this was an emergency. But the 9/11 rescue workers who responded immediately were not the only ones at risk for lung problems. Remember, the cleanup of the rubble lasted for a couple of months. None of these workers used respirators …they probably didn’t even use masks.

You see, just days after the Twin Tower’s collapse, a Christie Todd Whitman of the EPA went on TV and announced that the air was safe to breathe and that New Yorkers, and 9/11 workers, could return to business as usual.

Sigh…

I could comment here, like so many have commented, that the government was more eager for Wall Street to get back to business that it was Main Street to be healthy, but I won’t.

All I will say is this: no matter what the government or anyone else says, always wear protective gear (including respirators or at least masks) when you are going to be exposed to any questionable substances.